Surgical instrument.



No. 769,483. PATENTEDVSEPT. 6, 1904; F. E. LEAVITT.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

N0 MODEL Wines .5 es

5 e mzi Lear (iii, Wa 3] 1/ 7 UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

PATENT EEICE- SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,483, datedSeptember 6, 1904. Application filed November 23, 1903. Serial No.182,244. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, FREDERICK E. LEAVITT, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey andState of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSurgical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved surgical instrument commonly knownas a uterine dilator.

The object of my invention is to provide an instrument for obstetric andgynecological purposes which while simple in construction and effectivein use may also be easily and quickly taken apart and rendered aseptic.

To these ends my invention consists of a fulcrum and a plurality ofseparable dilatinglevers, which are applied to said fulcrum when used.

My invention further consists of the features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a side view of my improved surgical instrument. Fig. 2 is a detailview of Fig. 1, showing part of the fulClLllll-DlQCQ in section. Fig. 3is a sectional view of Fig. 1, showing one end of the 't'ulcrum-piece.Fig. A is a view of the other end of the fulcrum-piece. Fig. 5 is adetail view of the ends of a pair of the levers, and Figs. 6, 7, 8, and9 are detail views of variousforms of the ends used on thedilatinglevers.

In the drawings let A represent the fulcrumpiece and B thedilating-levers. The fulcrumpiece, as shown, consists of a shank 2,having disks 3 and 1 on its ends, which form fulcrums for thedilating-levers. These fulcrum-disks are recessed at 5 to receive thedilating-levers. The recesses are equally spaced apart on the peripheryof each disk and are formed with knife-bearing edges 6, on which theangles of the notches '7 between the ends of the dilatinglevers areplaced. as shown in Fig. 2. The dilating-levers, as shown, are four innumber and similar in construction, except as hereinafter stated, andare adapted to rest on one of the fulcrums when used. If only a smallamount of dilation is desired, the levers are applied to the smallfulcrum 8 and if a greater amount is desired they are applied to thelarge fulcrum. In either case the power ends of the levers extend backover the shank of the fulcrum-piece 2-, as shown in Fig. 1.

In use the fulcrum is held in the hand and one of the disks applied tothe notches in the levers, as shown in Fig. 1, after their ends havebeen inserted for use. A rubber band 8 is then passed around the ends ofthe levers, which extend over the shank 2. The power ends of the leversare grasped by the hand when it is desired to sum'ilement the forceexerted by the rubber band or additional rubber bands are passed aroundthe levers. The ends of the levers and fulcrum may be changed and theinstrument used either for-obstetric or gynecological purposes. One setof ends of the lovers is designed for obstetric and the other forgynecological use.

By the use of the means above described a constant and effective forceis applied by means of the levers.

As shown in Fig. 5, the end 9 of one lover is made smaller in diameterthan the corresponding ends of the other three, and the convex side 10of one of the other corresponding ends is grooved at 11 in such a way asto permit the smaller-sized lever to pass within and alongside saidgroove when the levers are first applied and used.

In Figs. ,6, 7, 8, and 9 modified forms of ends of the lovers are shown,and as it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which thisinvention relates that the ends of the levers may be suitably designedfor the various uses for which thisinstrument is adapted withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention I do not wish to confinemyself to the specific construction specified. It is also obvious thatwhile I have shown and described four levers three or any suitablenumber may be used, also that some other means may be used in place ofthe rubber band for applying power to the levers.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is

1. An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of a fulcrum, aplurality of reversible, dilating-levers, and means for detachablyfastening said levers on said fulcrum.

2. An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of a plurality ofreversible, dilating-levers, a fulcrum-piece having difierent-sizedheads, and means for detachably fastening said levers on either head,for the purposes specified.

3. An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of a plurality ofreversible, dilating-levers, a fulcrum-piece having different-sizedheads, means for detachably pivoting said levers on either of saidheads, and actuating means for said levers.

4:. An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of reversible,dilatinglevers, and a fulcrum-piece having an enlarged end which isprovided with recesses in which said levers are adapted to be detachablypivoted.

5. An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of a fulcrum-piecehaving enlarged ends which are provided with recesses, and a pluralityof dilating-levers, notched to pivot on said ends, in said recesses.

6. An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of a fulcrum-piecehaving enlarged ends, a plurality of dilating-levers, and means by whichsaid levers are removably and pivotally attached to said ends.

7 An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of a fulcrum piecehaving notched disks of different diameters on its ends, a plurality ofdilating-levers having means for engaging the notches in either one orthe other of said disks, and mechanical means for applying power to saidlevers.

8. An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of a fulcrum-piecehaving a shank, a pair of disks of different diameters on the ends ofsaid shank and provided with recesses in their peripheries,dilating-levers, notches in said levers adapted to engage the recessesin either one or theother of said disks, and an elastic band around thepower ends of said levers.

9. An instrument of the class set forth, consisting of a fulcrum-piecehaving fulcrumdisks of different diameters on its ends, a plurality ofdilating-levers having their ends formed with convex surfaces, and meansfor engaging said levers with a disk, one of said levers being smallerat the end than the others, While another lever is grooved to permit the.end of said smaller lever to pass within and alongside said groove whensaid levers are first inserted for use.

In testlmony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two sub scribing witnesses.

FREDERICK E. LEAV'ITT.

Witnesses:

E. M. BOESEL, F. G. BRADBURY.

